Back to familiar grounds!

I've been waiting for what seems as an eternety for this book. I can easely say that its the read Ive most looked forward to in my whole life (I consider the first law books my favourite triology) and when Steven Pacey starts reading in my ears its like Im taken back to the days when I first encountered the First Law books. And for all the wonderful nostalgia I end up with a familiar feeling when I reach the end, as if I was re-reading part of the books that came before. It could be the overwhelming cast of old characters that are present in the story, or that the events are somewhat similar to what has come before in other Abercrombie books. But it is, as always, the characters that Joe Abercronbie dreams up (that sometimes give me nightmares) that help carry the somewhat thin plot forward, and I never felt bored. Its with huge expectations that I await the rest of this planned triology to see how it all evolves!

+Great characters
+Steven Paceys performance
+Great setting

-Wished the story would've evolved more
-Thought it to be a bit short
-Felt a bit too familiar at times.

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Makes the whole First Law series even better

To be honest, I went in to this with a little low expectations. I know that Joe wrote a different series in a different world, and thought "Well, that didn't work out, so now he's back to milk his cash cow". (And I'm sorry now, that is not the case!). I preferred the original First Law trilogy, always having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the new characters in the second "trilogy" - which I also consider a mistake on my behalf.

After reading this, I'm suddenly in awe of what Joe Abercrombie has created and the way he writes funny yet grim, intelligent yet digestable and dark yet hopeful. No one writes POV's so convincingly, I think. The way you understand everyones viewpoints and can empathise with all the very different characters is just amazing. He has a way of making the plot turn and twist at just the right time, and when there's a twist it seems so natural and realistic, even though you didn't see it coming at all. (Much like reality...)

I really want to go back and read all the previous books to really understand all the different characters and references I most certainly missed in this - and to appreciate it the way it's supposed to. Perfect.

Other similar stuff I like: Riyria Revelations+Chronicles, Stormlight Archives, The Gentlemen Bastards.

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Moarrrrrr!

Simply superb. Best book I have erm read in a long time. Thanks Joe. Steven Pacey is the best narrator on Audible.

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The best fantasy writer at the moment.

I love all his books but this one is even better. As are many I'm also deeply disappointed by the pace GRRM writes his books. Joe Abercrombie his works should've been translated into an HBO series as well...

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Long Awaited and Fully Delivered

I've missed this world, I've missed these people, I've missed this voice. Bloody Good to you back old friend.

Good, but not as good as the first 3 books

I already knew this book was unlikely to be as good as the first 3 (The Blade itself, Before they are hanged and Last argument of Kings). Those are the best audio books I´ve ever listened to, except Douglas Adam reading his own Hitchhiker series :)

But if you keep expectations down and dont just sit and wait for a glimpse of Sand Dan Glokta, Logan 9 finger, Bias, or whoever was your favorite characters, "A little hatred" is worth the credit and you´ll at least get a little fix of the world you learned about in the previous books AND few of the guys are in this one too, only just in passing, so theres that..:).

One of the best books I have ever read

Absolute delight fron start to finish, the performance was also masterful. Packed with action, humor, emotion, but also surprisingly delicate and philosophical. Ingenious book!

Amazing as always

If you like the rest of Joe Abercrombie’s work you’ll like this. The writing is tight and people are, if not relatable, at least believable. Joe Abercrombie still corners the market on gritty dark bloody low-magic fantasy.

nothing short of typical Abercrombie brilliance.

and the narrator as ever has produced a topnotch performance as well. The Perfect Combination

Abercrombie - how I’ve longed...

... for his extended imagination, his remarkable language (and no, English is not native to me), his deeply enjoyable characters - come to life through mr Pacey’s superior acting. Better than any movie, although IF it would be, GoT would look like child’s play.